My Favorite Quilting Tools

Who taught you to quilt? Was it a grandmother, neighbor or sweet lady from church? Or maybe you are self-taught, and you consider blogs, YouTube and Instagram to be your teachers. I started my first quilt without knowing any quilters. Unfortunately, I abandoned that project because there were no internet resources to help me out with my questions. Fast forward fifteen years, and I took a class at Joann. Having an experienced quilter available to answer questions gave me the confidence to turn my sewing skills into quilting skills. Since that class, I have soaked up knowledge and inspiration from blogs, Instagram and most recently YouTube to improve my custom quilting skills.

One of my goals as a longarm quilter is to help create and encourage new quilters. Even experienced quilters can always learn a trick or two from other quilters. So I am going to share some of my favorite items that have made me a better quilter. Some I have used for many years, and others are recent additions. Even after 10 years of quilting, there are always new tools to buy!

1. Seam Guide

I think the #1 lesson to learn as a quilter is how to sew a consistent seam allowance. The general rule is a scant 1/4", which means it is just one-to-two thread widths smaller than a 1/4". It is essential to have a consistent seam allowance because if you are off by even a small amount either way, it will add up as more blocks are put together. It may mean some of your points are cut off, or lead to fullness in your quilt top because your seams are inconsistent.

The easiest way to be consistent is to use a seam guide. There are several different kinds available, depending on how your machine is set up. My daughter's machine has a magnetic seam guide that can easily be moved in order to change the bobbin, like the one pictured above. On the machine I use, I have a seam guide that screws on to the presser foot bar.

2. Starch

I have recently started using starch when I am piecing my quilts. One of my very first clients used starch on her quilts, and I was so impressed with how flat and precise her piecing was that I decided to give it a try. By starching your fabric before cutting, you add a little stiffness, which especially helps when cutting on the bias (diagonal). This keeps the fabric from stretching when you are cutting and piecing.

Since I am new to the starch game, I don't have a favorite brand yet, but I have used Best Press, Magic Quilting Spray, Faultless and Starch Savvy. I know a lot of quilters swear by Best Press, but I may be partial to Magic Quilting Spray. TBD.

3. Tailor's Clapper

This new addition to my arsenal is a piece of wood that you place over freshly-pressed blocks. As the block cools, the weight of the clapper presses down and gives you a very flat seam. I was skeptical at first, but I am very impressed with how it works. When paired with a wool pressing mat, the results are even better. So guess what is next on my wish list? A wool pressing mat of course!

4. A new needle and fresh rotary blade

How often do you change your sewing machine needle? I aim to do it every 8-10 hours of sewing, or when starting a new quilt. I am not as good about changing my rotary blade though. I find the best time to change it is when it starts to skip cutting at the same interval. Olfa has a new blade called the Endurance Blade that is supposed to last twice as long. I just put one in my cutter a couple of weeks ago, so we will see if it is true.

What are your favorite quilting tools? Let me know in the comments, so I can add them to my wishlist.